Most flight and CCT listings ask for the same short list:
- A paramedic license for the state the program works in.
- Three or more years in a busy 911 or ALS system. Some programs prefer five.
- ACLS, PALS or PEPP, and PHTLS or ITLS. Some add NRP for neonatal transports.
- The FP-C or CCP-C. Some programs want it at hire. Others give you 12 or 24 months from your start date, and some only list it as preferred. Check each listing for the deadline.
What the work looks like
Most helicopter programs fly a nurse and a paramedic together. Shifts at a base are commonly 12 or 24 hours, with scene flights and transfers between hospitals. Some programs run travel rotations, such as two weeks on and two weeks off, with lodging covered.
Ground critical care transport moves critical patients between hospitals by ambulance. It asks for many of the same certifications, and it’s a common way to build the critical care experience flight programs look for.
How to get hired
- Work a busy 911 system as a paramedic. Programs count your years from there.
- Keep ACLS, PALS or PEPP, and PHTLS or ITLS current.
- Build critical care experience: CCT, a busy ALS service, or hospital work.
- Study for the FP-C or CCP-C. You can sit either with a current, unrestricted paramedic license.
- Visit bases and talk to the crews before you apply.
- Apply to more than one program. Openings follow the bases, so be ready to move.
Before you go after it
- It isn’t entry-level. Expect three or more years of busy 911 before a program looks at you.
- The pay isn’t always higher. Compare the flight and ground medians above before you take a pay cut for the patch.
- The FP-C has a deadline. If a program gives you 12 or 24 months, plan the study time before you start.
- Weight limits apply. Aircraft have weight and balance limits, and programs set crew limits. Check the listing.
- Bases decide where you live. Openings cluster at bases, and moving for a job is common.